Attorney asks for new probes into Coronado hanging

An attorney for the family of Rebecca Zahau, the Arizona woman who was found hanging at the Coronado Spreckels mansion in July, has filed requests with the county District Attorney’s Office and state Attorney General’s Office asking for independent investigations into the death.

Rebecca Zahau

/ Photo courtesy of Michael Trier

Rebecca Zahau

Rebecca Zahau (/ Photo courtesy of Michael Trier)

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department and Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a suicide, but Zahau’s family continues to suspect foul play.

Seattle-based attorney Anne Bremner said Tuesday that she had asked the attorney general to look at the case previously but was told to first try to get the investigation reopened by sheriff’s officials. Since the Sheriff’s Department declined, Bremner submitted the request again to state and local prosecutors, she said.

Bremner would not say what kind of new information or evidence was included with the latest requests.

An attorney general spokeswoman said Tuesday that they hadn't yet received the request.

A private pathologist hired by the family to conduct a second autopsy last year has raised questions about Zahau’s injuries, her bindings and the analysis of DNA and blood samples.

Investigators said Zahau was distressed about critical injuries suffered by Shacknai’s 6-year-old son, Max, who fell from a second-story staircase days earlier. Zahau had been baby-sitting Max that day. He later died.

They said no forensic evidence pointed to foul play in Zahau’s hanging.

Shacknai has already asked the attorney general for an independent review of the sheriff’s findings. His request cited confidence in the investigation, but he hoped another opinion would put minds at ease. His request was denied.